Curved panel construction for a merchandiser

Abstract

This panel assembly (30) for a merchandiser (10) includes frame assembly (34) includes attached to the merchandiser and wall (22) and an aracuate translucent sheet (34). The frame assembly (34) includes opposed side retaining rails (36) receiving the flexed arcuate sheet (34) in retained relation, a lower base member (46) having an arcuate front wall (52), and an upper cap member (56) having an arcuate front wall (62). The panel assembly (30) includes a back-lighting assembly (80) for illuminating the translucent sheet (34).

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A curved panel construction for a merchandiser comprising: (a) a merchandiser having a generally rectangular flat end wall,   (b) opposed elongate side members and attachment means operatively attaching the side members to the wall,   (c) a lower transverse member having an arcuate front portion, a rear portion and attachment means for operatively attaching the lower member rear portion to the wall,   (d) an upper transverse member having an arcuate front portion, a rear portion and attachment means operatively attaching the upper member rear portion to the wall, and   (e) an arcuate sheet of material having upper and lower margins and opposed side margins,   (f) said side members cooperating to provide means for operatively retaining said arcuate sheet on said wall,   (g) at least one of said upper and lower members being a pan-shaped member having an arcuate front wall and a straight rear wall, said front wall conforming generally to the arcuate sheet of material and said rear wall conforming generally to the flat end wall.   
     
     
       2. A curved panel construction as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) said upper and lower members are pan-shaped members.   
     
     
       3. A curved panel construction as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) said elongate side members are inwardly turned and generally V-shaped including an acute angle, said side members being operatively attached to the flat end wall the angle between said V-shaped members substantially corresponding to an end angle between the arcuate sheet and said wall.   
     
     
       4. A curved panel construction as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) said upper and lower members are pan-shaped members, reversely formed relative to each other, to provide framing means for the said arcuate sheet.   
     
     
       5. A curved panel construction as defined in claim 4, in which: (i) said side members stop short of said pan-shaped members.   
     
     
       6. A curved panel construction as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) said arcuate sheet and said wall cooperate to define a generally segmental space, and   (i) lighting means is provided within the segmental space to back-light the arcuate sheet.   
     
     
       7. A curved panel construction for a merchandiser comprising: (a) a merchandiser having a generally rectangular wall,   (b) opposed elongate side members and attachment means operatively attaching the side members to the wall,   (c) a lower transverse member having an arcuate front portion and attachment means for operatively attaching the lower member to the wall,   (d) an upper transverse member having an arcuate front portion and attachment means operatively attaching the upper member to the wall,   (e) an arcuate sheet of translucent material having upper and lower margins and opposed side margins, and   (f) said side members cooperating to provide means for operatively retaining said arcuate sheet on said wall,   (g) said upper member attachment means including a generally horizontal member, disposed in spaced parallel relation to said upper member and connected to said merchandiser wall, and spacer means between said upper member and said horizontal member.   
     
     
       8. A merchandiser comprising: (a) a front wall, a rear wall and opposed generally rectangular flat end walls having oppposed side edges,   (b) frame means carried by each end wall, each frame means including a pair of opposed elongate, generally vertical side retaining members each formed from two angularly related legs, one of said legs being attached to said end wall adjacent an associated side edge and the other of said legs being outstanding and angled inwardly toward a corresponding leg of the other retaining member, and each frame means including a lower member and an upper member each having an arcuate front wall portion and a rear wall portion attached to said end wall and   (c) an initially flat sheet of material having upper and lower margins and opposed side margins, said side margins being retained in overlapped arcuate configuration by at least said frame side members and said lower and upper margins being overlapped by said arcuate front wall portions of said lower member and said upper member, respectively.   
     
     
       9. A merchandiser as defined in claim 8, in which: (d) each frame means includes a lower, pan-shaped base member and an upper pan-shaped cap member, each of said members having a panel portion and an arcuate wall portion and a rear wall portion.   
     
     
       10. A merchandiser as defined in claim 8, in which: (d) said front wall is a generally flat glass access door.   
     
     
       11. A merchandiser as defined in claim 8, in which: (d) said initially flat sheet of material is translucent and is bowed into an arc to define a segment with said end wall and lighting means is housed in said segment to back light said translucent sheet.   
     
     
       12. A method of forming a curved end on a merchandiser having a generally rectangular flat end wall of substantially constant height and substantially constant width and opposed vertical side edges, comprising the steps of: (a) attaching spaced elongate retainer members having outstanding, inwardly angled legs, to each side of said end wall adjacent said side edges,   (b) providing a generally rectangular flat sheet having side, lower and upper margins and having a width greater than a minimum transverse distance between said inwardly angled legs,   (c) attaching an elongate base member to a lower end of the wall,   (d) flexing the sheet so that it can be inserted in retained relation between overlapping inwardly angled legs,   (e) attaching an upper elongate cap member to an upper end of the wall, and   (f) forming the upper and lower members from pan-shaped members having arcuate walls arranged to overlap the lower and upper margins of the sheet whereby the side members and lower and upper members cooperate to form a frame around the sheet.   
     
     
       13. The method of forming a curved end on a merchandiser as defined in claim 12 including an additional step of: (f) back-lighting a space between the arcuate sheet and the end wall.   
     
     
       14. A merchandiser comprising: (a) a front wall, a rear wall and opposed generally rectangular flat end walls having. Opposed side edges,   (b) frame means carried by each end wall, each frame means including a pair of opposed elongate, generally vertical V-shaped side retaining members formed from two angularly related legs, one of said legs being attached to said end wall adjacent an associated side edge and the other of said legs being angled toward a corresponding leg of the other retaining member, a lower pan-shaped base member having an arcuate front wall portion, a generally straight rear wall portion and a horizontal panel portion connecting said front and rear wall portions, an upper pan-shaped cap member having an arcuate front wall portion, a generally straight rear wall portion and a horizontal panel portion connecting said front and rear wall portions, said cap member being inverted relative to said base member, and attachment means operatively attaching said base member and cap member to associated end walls,   (c) an initially flat sheet of translucent material having upper and lower margins and opposed side margins, said side margins being retained in overlapped arcuate configuration by said frame retaining side members, and said lower and upper margins being overlapped by said arcuate wall portions of said base member and cap member respectively,   (d) said arcuate sheet and said wall cooperating to define a generally segmental space, and lighting means being provided within the segmental space to back-light the arcuate sheet.   
     
     
       15. A merchandiser as defined in claim 14 in which: (e) said attachment means for said base member includes fastener means attaching said rear wall portion of said base member to said end wall and said attachment means for said cap member includes a generally horizontal member attached to said end wall and means for attaching said cap member to said horizontal member.